The Next Step: Play-making Adelaide defender Wayne Milera might be even harder to catch in 2019

With SuperCoach Team Picker coming soon, The Phantom’s Next Step series looks at some of the young stars of the AFL: Will Wayne Milera be even harder to catch in 2019?

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• The Next Step: Jade Gresham
• The Next Step: Tim Taranto
• The Next Step: Hugh McCluggage

In the lead-up to the launch of the SuperCoach Team Picker, The Phantom looks at a number of young stars ready to take the next step in 2019.

The Next Step: Wayne Milera

It’s not easy to catch Wayne Milera.

Taking over from injured defender Brodie Smith, there was no stopping the 21-year-old dashing off half-back in 2018.

On numerous occasions, Milera dodged, weaved and got out of trouble when there was seemingly no way out.

At the start of Adelaide’s 2019 campaign, nothing had changed.

Milera appeared to coast effortlessly to victory in the Crows’ first 2km time trial of the pre-season, while team-mates Reilly O’Brien and Jake Kelly did everything they could to catch him.

Like many last year, they couldn’t.

The great players have more time than most. And Milera showed enough in his third season to suggest he could be on his way to becoming one.

Especially in the final seven games of the year.

From round 17 onwards, the speedster averaged 23 disposals, six marks, four rebound 50s and 95 SuperCoach points per game.

The skilful right-footer hit the target with 133 of his 158 disposals during this time and also showed an elite intercept ability in the back half.

Milera, who added 22 points to his SuperCoach average in 2018, averaged seven intercept possessions per game and took 19 intercept marks as the Crows won five out of seven matches to finish the year.

Wayne Milera breaks away from Port Adelaide’s Steven Motlop in Showdown 45. Picture SARAH REED

As a junior, the Central District product was never a big ball winner, playing most of his best football as a small-forward.

But, in 2017, after spending most of his eight-game debut season close to goal, Milera moved further up the ground, playing predominantly as a wingman in his 16 games, increasing his disposal average from 11 to 16.

That figure increased to 19 in 2018, thanks largely to his big finish to the year.

But how much more that increases next season will depend on how Don Pyke uses his exciting play-maker.

With Brodie Smith fit again, does Milera again push onto a wing and become more damaging forward of centre?

Or will he team-up with Smith and All-Australian Rory Laird to form a dynamic trio of running defenders?

Either way, given the Crows should continue to get the ball in his hands whenever they can, it’s hard to see Milera going any way but up from here.

Wayne Milera

2019 position: Defender

Estimated price: $430,000

The Phantom’s predicted 2019 average: 94

2016

Disposals (ave): 11

SuperCoach (ave): 51

2017

Disposals: 16

SuperCoach: 58

2018

Disposals: 19

SuperCoach: 80

Originally published as The Next Step: Play-making Adelaide defender Wayne Milera might be even harder to catch in 2019